Toy vehicles having track-type wheels



July 13, 1965 H. J. NOTTAGE TOY VEHICLES HAVING TRACKTYPE WHEELS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1963 INVENTOR.

HOW/1RD J NOTTAGE BUCKHOQM RE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS July 13,1965 H. J. NOTTAGE 3,194,583

TOY VEHICLES HAVING TRACK-TYPE WHEELS v V 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13,1963 I" x as: W h: "q W Q Fig. /0 r-: N *2 a 24 /2a I v /22 v INVENTOR.v HOWARD NOTTAGE 250 BY BUCKHO/PM 5mg xmRou/sra seam/MN AT7URNEY$ July13,1965 H. J. NOTTAGE TOY VEHICLES HAVING TRACK-TYPE WHEELS I I FiledMay 13, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HOWARD J.- NOTTAGE sue/(Haw 5mm: KLAROU/ST 8 SPARK/WW ATTOIWEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,194,583 TOY VEHICLES HAVENG TRAQK-TYPE WHEELS Howard J.Nottage, 609 SE. 41st Ave, Portland, Greg. Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No,279,934 11 Claims. (Ci. ass-22s This invention relates to toy vehicleshaving track-type wheels, and more particularly to push-type andpedaledtype toys having track-type wheels.

An object of the invention is to provide toys having track-type wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy cart havingtrack-type wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tricycle having atrack-type wheel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle havingnoncircular track-type wheels of constant width to create oscillatingmotions of the Wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle with anoncircular track-type wheel with an oscillating rolling action togetherwith'a noise-creating member periodically struck by the wheel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pull-cart with anoncircular, flopping track-type Wheel,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a driven toy vehiclehaving a track-type wheel driven by a driving roller.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy cart havinga pull string adapted to pull the cart in either of two directions, andalso adapted to hold articles in the cart.

The present invention provides toy vehicles having track-type wheelssupporting roller memans fixed to the vehicle body and traveling alongthe inner portion of the wheel and rolling the wheel. The wheel may becircular or may be polygonal of a constant internal width. The wheelalso may be polygonal and have a varying diameter or Width. In a toyvehicle forming one embodiment of the invention, the body is adapted tobe pushed or pulled to move the roller along the interior of thetrack-type wheel. In a toy vehicle forming another embodiment of theinvention, there may be provided a roller driven by a pedaling mechanismor by a motor and serving to roll along a track-type wheel.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of toy vehicles forming specificembodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a toy cart forming one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken alongline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the toy cart of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view' of the cart of FIG. 1 of the sideopposite to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a toy cart forming analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of a toy cart forming analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken alongline 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation View of the cart forming analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenalong'line 1l1ti of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a tricycle forming an alternateembodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along line 12-12.of FIG. 11;

- bodies.

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FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a tricycle forming an alternateembodiment of the invention;

7 FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken alongline 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a toy cart forming analternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a toy cart forming analternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 1717of FIG. 16.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4-a toy cart or wagon 14 including a body 16 and track-type wheels ortracks 17, 18, 19 and 29 adapted to roll along a supporting surface suchas, for example, a floor, and supporting flanged roller pin or axledevices 21, which in turn support the body 16. The tracks 17 to Zn areretained on the cart body by the roller devices 21 and by upper, flangedroller devices 22.

The tracks 17 to 20 include rigid or semi-rigid endless track bodies 27to St respectively, having treads 31 to 34 on the exteriors thereof. Thetreads are preferably composed of resilient material which has goodfrictional characteristics such as, for example, rubber or the like, andare suitably adhered to the track bodies 27 to 30. Alternately, thetrack bodies and treads may be molded integrally from a plastic materialwith the treads having suitable knurling or other frictionalcharacteristics desirable in wheels. In the cart 14, the external widthof each of the track bodies 27 to 36, external width being defined asthe distance between the inner and outer peripheries of the track body,is the same completely around the circumferences thereof, and this widthof each track body preferably is equal to that of the other track Thetrack bodies 27 and 28 are noncircular, generally triangular and ofsubstantially the same configuration except that the width of the trackbody 27 is larger than the width of the track body 28. Each track body27 and 28 though noncircular, has a constant inner width and a constantouter width. Since the configurations of the track bodies 27 and 28 aresubstantially identical, only the track body 28 will be described indetail. The inner periphery of the track body is of a constant width,and comprises three large diameter arcuate surfaces 37 which are joinedat the ends thereof by three small diameter arcuate surfaces 33. Thewidth of the inner periphery of the track body 28 is equal to the radiusof each of the large diameter arcuate surfaces 37 plus the radius ofeach of the smail diameter arcuate surfaces38, and each small diametersurface 3% has a center 39, which is the same as the center of the largediameter surface 37 opposite to that small diameter surface 38. Theexterior peripheral surface of the track body 28 is'substantiallyparallel to the inner peripheral surface thereof so that the track body23 is of a substantially constant width, and includes large diameterarcuate portions 41 concentric with the large diameter arcuate portions37 and small diameter arcuate portions 42 concentric with the smalldiameter arcuate portions 33. The annulus width of the annular trackbody 27 is substantially identical with that of the track body 23 whilethe internal and external widths of the track body 27 are larger thanthe corresponding widths of the track body 28.

Each of the flanged roller devices 21 includes a screw 51 thr aded intoa side 52 of the body 16 and forming an axle on which are mountedwasher-s 53 and 54 and asleeve or roller 55. The external diameter ofthe roller 55 is only a small fraction of the inner width of thesmallest of the track bodies 27 to St). The roller 55 fits loosely onthe screw 51 and is of sufiicient length to space the washers 53 and 54apart a distance greater than the thickness of the track body 27, 28, 29or 39 associated therewith to permit a limited amount of play betweenthe track body and the washers. Also, for noise, it is desirable thatthe screws 51 be threaded into the sides 52 so as to permit alimitedamount of play between the washers 53 and 54 and the rollers 55 and theheads of the screws and the sides 52 to create rattle and noise. Theflanged roller devices 22 are of identical construction with that of theroller devices 21, and are spaced directly above the devices 21 adistance such that the distance between the top of the sleeve of theroller device 22 to the bottom of the sleeve of the roller device 21 isslightly less than the internal width of the track body associatedtherewith, and are adapted to be slapped by the track bodies 27 through29 as the cart is pulled and the wheel tracks 17 to 19 are rotatedthereby.

Thev track body 29 is a five-sided polygon, and has an internalperiphery of constant width and an external periphery of a constantwidth. The body 29 is of substantially constant width and preferably isrigid. The inner periphery of the body 29 includes elongated arcuateportions 61, 62, and 63. The portions 61 and 63 are separated by ashort, sharply curved, arcuate portion 70 and an intermediate lengtharcuate portion 64, the portions 61 and 62 are joined by a short,sharply curved, arcuate portion 71 and an intermediate length arcuateportion 65, and the portions 62 and 63 are joined by a short, sharplycurved, arcuate portion 66. The arcuate portions 61, 62 and 63 arecentered on centers 67, 63 and 69, respectively, the arcuate portion 64is centered on center 72, and the arcuate portion 65 is centered on thecenter 73. The track body is a circular annulus. The cart 14, whileshown with the four tracks 17 to 20 of dififerent widths andconfigurations, obviously may have all of the wheels of the same sizeand configuration, and the four different types of wheels 17 to 20 areshown for purposes of illustrating the different types of arcuate,track-type wheels which may be used therewith.

The cart body 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes the sides 52 joined rigidlytogether by a bed 75 having end walls 76 suitably secured rigidly to thesides 52 and the bed 75, which also is secured rigidly to the sides 52.Each of the inclined end walls 76 has a hole 7 8 therethrough throughwhich extends a flexible pull cord 79. The flexible pull cord 79 hasenlarged handle or stop members 89 and 81 at the ends thereof and isadapted to slide freely through the holes 78 as limited in one directionby the member 811 and in the other direction by the member 81. Theportion of the cord 79 between the holes 78 is adapted to press downagainst articles positioned in the cart and hold the articles in thecart as the cart is being pulled along, the pull cord 79 being tensionedas the car is pulled.

As the cart 14 is pulled along a floor or sidewalk or the like to theright, as viewed in FIG. 1, the roller devices 21 rest on the tracks 17to 29 and roll therealong, and as each of the roller devices 21 movesfrom a larger arcuate portion of each of the tracks 17 to 19 into andthrough one of the smaller arcuate portions thereof, the track flops orswings in a clockwise direction. The track moves through the angleincluded between the adjacent ends of the larger diameter arcuateportions of the track. The elongated arcuate portions of the trackbodies 27, 28 and 29, as the tracks are rotating flop up, strike theupper roller devices 22 to rattle the roller devices 22.

Considering the track 18, as each of the lower roller devices 21 travelsfrom one of the small diameter arcuate portions 38 to the next, thethird small diameter portion 38 stays substantially centered on theretaining device 22, so that, in effect, the track body 28 pivots aboutthe upper roller device 22 during this travel of the roller device 21along each larger diameter portion 37 on the inner periphery thereof.Then, While the lower roller device 21 is traveling over the smallerarcuate portion 38 thereahead, the body 28 swings through substantially60 in a very short period of time, in effect pivoting about the rollerdevice 21 with the upper elongated arcuate portion 37 swinging over theupper roller device 22. The action of the larger track 17 is similar tothat of the track 18, but of course takes slightly longer for arevolution because of the larger size thereof.

The action of the five-sided track 19 is similar to that of the track 18but the swings of the track 19 about the roller device 21 areproportional to the included angles between the portions 61 to 65. Thesenon-uniform swinging motions are non-uniform rotating motions whichamount to swinging motions of the tracks 17, 18 and 19, give a novel,intriguing effect visually without interfering with perfectly smooth,level traveling of the cart. Preferably, the bodies 27, 2%, 29 and 31)are of a color sharply contrasting with the color of the sides 52 of thecart to accentuate the visual effect. The wheel 29 travels on the center85 so that it does not have the swinging or pendulum movements of thewheels 17, 18 and 19. The roller devices 21 and 22 retain the wheels ingenerally parallel planes as they are rotated.

In a toy cart 91 (FIGS. 5 and 6) forming an alternate embodiment of theinvention, there is included a wheel or track 92 of a non-uniform widthand polygonal shape. The wheel or track 92 includes a rigid or semirigidtrack body 93 and a tread 94 of rubber, plastic or the like suitablysecured to the outer periphery thereof. The wheel is retained on a side95 of the cart body by a roller device 96 of substantially identicalconstruction with that of the roller devices 21. (FIGS. 1 to 4). A pinmember 97 projecting through the inner opening in the track body and aretaining bar 98 carried by the pin member 97 retain the wheel 92 in asubstantially vertical position while permitting rotation of the wheel.The pin 97 is positioned substantially directly above the roller device96 and prevents the wheel 92 from dropping off the cart when thecart islifted, the bar 98 maintaining the wheel 92 is substantial lateralalignment with the flanged roller device 96. The body 93 is providedwith elongated inner straight portions 1% and 101 joined to intermediatelength straight portions 162 and 103 by short, sharply curved arcuateportions 104, 165, 1136 and 107. The wheel 92 alternately stands stilland then swings through a large angle during the movement of the rollerdevice 96 therealong, to give a pleasing visual effect. While the bar 98is shown as horizontal, it obviously may be positioned at an angle tothe horizontal if so desired.

In a toy cart 111 (FIGS. 7 and 8) forming an alternate embodiment of theinvention, a noncircular, generally triangular annular wheel or track112 of constant width similar to the wheel 18 (FIGS. 1 to 4) is mountedon a side 113 of the cart body by a retaining roller device 114 similarto the roller device 21. A U-shaped strap 115 is secured at its ends tothe side 113. The bar 115 is spaced above the top of the flange 114 adistance less than the combined width of track body 116 and tread 117 ofthe wheel to prevent the track from falling off the device 114 when thecart is lifted. A bell 119 is suspended by a link 1213 from the bar 115or the side 113 in a position in the path of the apex portions of thetrack 112 asthe track swings around theroller device 114 and is struckthereby to produce noise.

In a toy cart 121 (FIGS. 9 and 10) a wheel or track 122 is mounted on aside 123 of the cart body by means of a roller device 124 and aretaining fender 125. The fender 125 has an outer cover portion126and'an arcuate portion 127 secured to the side 123. The lower edge ofportion 126 is spaced sufiiciently close tothe rollerdevice 124 toretain the track 122 on the roller device when the cart is lifted. Theinner periphery of the arcuate portion 127 is spaced from the center ofthe roller device 124 a distance slightly greater than the greatestdistance the wheel 122 extends from the center of the roller device 124,as illustrated best in FIG. 9 to provide clearance for the wheel 122,and preferably is centered on the roller device 124. The wheel 122 issubstantially identical to the wheel 92 (FIG. 5).

A tricycle 141 (FIGS. 11 and 12) forming an alternate embodiment of theinvention includes a front wheel or track 142 rotatable in a fork 152.The Wheel 142 includes a track body 144 of the same generalconfiguration as that of the track 18 (FIGS. 1 to 4) and has a taperedfrictional inner driving surface 145, which is engaged by acomplementarily grooved toothed driving pulley 146 driven by a chain 137and driving sprocket 147 keyed to pedal arms 148. The pulley 146 has acentral annular groove 138 at the bottom of which is located asmall-diameter sprocket 139. A grooved pulley 149 is provided to keepthe track 144 in engagement with the driving pulley 146. A core 151 isprovided to give at least semi-rigidity to the wheel 142. The fork152mounts the pulleys 146 and 149 and sprocket 147 by bearings 153 and154, axles 155 and 156 and shaft 157'. The fork is turned by handlebar158 relative to frame 159' carrying a seat 160. Conventional rear wheels161 are provided.

When the tricycle 141 is ridden and the pedal arms 148 are revolved, thepulley 146 is revolved and frictionally engages the inner periphery 145of the track body 144 and moves the pulley 146 along the track body 144with the track body 144 alternately pivoting about the pulley 146 andthe pulley 149 to produce a very novel, pleasing eifect. As an alternateconstruction, the chain 137 and sprocket 147 may be omitted and pedalssimilar to but having shorter arms than those of the pedals 148 may bedrivingly attached to the pulley 146. Also, if desired, the sprocket147, the chain 137 and the pulley 146 may be replaced with three gearsand the periphery 145 provided with gear teeth adapted to mesh with theteeth of the lowermost gear, or instead of three gears, a single gearadapted to be pedaled may be substituted for the chain, sprocket andpulley.

A tricycle 180 (FIGS. 13 and 14) forming an alternate embodiment of theinvention includes a single arm support 182 in place of the conventionalfork and carrying a grooved supporting pulley or roller 184 on a fixedaxle 186 and a grooved idler pulley or roller 188 on a fixed axle 190.The grooved pulleys mount rotatably a tracktype wheel or track 12 ofgenerally triangular, constant width shape. A spider or spoke member 194is rigidly secured to the track 192 at the middle portions of side 1%,and a pedal shaft 198 is fixed rigidly to the spider as by welding orbrazing, and projects through a generally elliptical slot 200 in thesupport 182. Pedal arms 202 and 284 are keyed to the shaft. When therider of the tricycle pedals, the track 192 is driven by the spider andis guided by the pulleys 184 and 188. The axle 198 is positionedequidistantly from the midpoints of the sides 1% of the track and alsoequidistantly from the apices of the track. However, the distance toeach midpoint is substantially less than the distance to each apex ofthe track so that the axle 198 moves up and down relative to the groundas the tricycle is pedaled. Due to the triangular periphery of the track192, the axle 198 also moves back and forth horizontally relative to thesupport 182. The amplitude of this horizontal movement is substantiallygreater than the amplitude of the vertical movement of the axle 198, thepath of the axle 198 relative to the support 182 being elliptical andgenerally parallel to and concentric with but slightly smaller than theelliptical slot 200. This causes a movement of the pedals such as togive the effect of galloping, to a child. The pedal arms 202 and 204, toprovide as close to identical paths of the pedals as possible and. alsogive the best torque relationships for pedaling, are preferably keyed tothe shaft 198 in positions extending parallel to one of the sides 196.However, the pedal arms can be arranged parallel to one of the spokes194 or in any position between these two.

A cart 210 (FIG. forming an alternate embodiment of the inventionincludes an elongated, generally triangular, constant width, roller-likewheel or track 212 supporting aligned rollers 214 supported by arms 216bracketing the track 212. The arms 216 are integral with sides 6 218 ofcart body 220 which also includes ends 222. The arms 216 and rollers 214retain the track 212 on the cart even when the cart is lifted off thefloor or ground. The cart 2111 gives a pleasing oscillation of the trackas the cart is pulled or pushed and may be shaped like a steam roller ifso desired.

A cart 23!) (FIGS. 16 and 17) forming an alternate embodiment of theinvention includes a cart body 232 having a side 234 supporting axledevices 236 and 238 like the axle devices 21 and 22 (FIG. 1),respectively, and a track-like wheelor track 249 having a track body 242and tread 244 like the track body 28 and tread 32, respectively. A cap246 having a triangular, inner flange 248 is secured rigidly to thetrack body 242 and forms a covered wheel therewith. If desired the capmay be formed integrally with the track body. The cap provides clearancefor washers 251) and 252 of the axle devices 236 and 238.

While in the above described toy carts and tricycle, the tracks havebeen illustrated as being of uniform width, the tracks may, of course,be of non-uniform width to provide an uneven travel or raising andlowering of the carts and/or tricycle if such an action is preferred.Obviously, many other modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy vehicle,

a pair of polygonal, generally annular, non-circular,

rigid track members,

a toy cart body having a pulling means,

axle means supporting the body and adapted to rest on and move along theinner peripheral portions of the rigid track member when the trackmembers are supported by a supporting surface, and means retaining thetrack members in position at opposite sides of the toy cart body andpermitting views from the sides of substantially the entire trackmembers.

2. In a toy vehicle,

a generally triangular, annular track member of constant internal widthhaving an inner periphery provided with three curved sides each of apredetermined radius and three curved corner portions joining the sidesand each of a second predetermined radius substantially less than thatof each side,

a lower axle having a radius not greater than the radius of the cornerportions and resting on and movable along the bottom portion of theinner periphery of the track member,

an upper axle having a radius not greater than the radius of the cornerportions and positioned directly above the lower axle in a postiionengaging the upper por tion of the inner periphery of the track memberand retaining the track member on the lower axle,

and vehicle frame means fixed to the axles in a position in whichsubstantially the entire track member is visible from the vehicle framemeans.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein each of the lower and upper axleshas a radius substantially equal to that of the corner portions of theinner periphery of the track member.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein the vehicle frame means comprisesa cart body.

5. The toy vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lower axle comprises an axlemember fixed to the cart body,

and flanged roller means rotatable on the axle member.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein the vehicle frame means and thetrack member are of different, contrasting colors.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein the vehicle frame means comprisesa tricycle fork.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 2 wherein the track member has a taperedinner periphery,

the lower axle comprises a tapered, flanged driving pulley carried bythe vehicle frame means and fitting over the lower portion of the innerperiphery of the track member and supported thereby,

and including pedal means for rotating the drive pulley.

9. The toy vehicle of claim 8 wherein the vehicle frame means includes agenerally vertical fork,

the flanged pulley has sprocket teeth thereon,

the upper axle includes an upper flanged pulley carried by the fork,

and including a drive sprocket carried by the fork between the pulleysand adapted to be driven by the pedal means,

and a chain drivingly connecting the drive sprocket and the lowerpulley.

10. The toy vehicle of claim 2 including an arm member forming a portionof the vehicle frame means and positioned at one side of the trackmember,

pedal means,

a drive shaft connected to the pedal means,

and spoke means connecting the drive shaft to the track member andpositioned on the other side of the track member.

11. The toy vehicle of claim ltiwherein the arm mem ber is provided witha slot through which the shaft projects and providing clearance for theshaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 93,686 8/69Dillaha 280-210 276,227 4/83 Crosby' 280-4734 436,844 9/90 Thorp 280-2101,151,251 8/15 Eberhard 305-7 1,223,949 4/17 Flagg 280-229 X 1,446,7992/23 Hunziker 280-47 .34 1,487,128 3/24 Werdenhoff 3056 1,561,918 11/25Feddersen 280-229 1,985,681 12/34 Miller 301-37 X 2,189,232 2/40 Snell280-282 2,786,540 3/57 Sfredda- 305 2,790,503 4/57 Kopczynski "We -7FOREIGN PATENTS 892,164 1/44 France. 980,314 12/50 France. 175,190 9/06Germany.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH H. .BETTS, A. HARRY LEVY, Examiners.

1. IN A TOY VEHICLE, A PAIR OF POLYGONAL, GENERALLY ANNULAR,NON-CIRCULAR, RIGID TRACK MEMBERS, A TOY CART BODY HAVING A PULLINGMEANS, AXLE MEANS SUPPORTING THE BODY AND ADAPTED TO REST ON AND MOVEALONG THE INNER PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE RIGID TRACK MEMBER WHEN THETRACK MEMBERS ARE SUPPORTED BY A SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND MEANS RETAININGTHE TRACK MEMBERS IN POSITION AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TOY CART BODY ANDPERMITTING VIEWS FROM THE SIDES OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE TRACKMEMBERS.